Have you ever noticed your pony stamping their feet, swishing their tail constantly, or shaking their head during summer? Flies are probably to blame! Whilst flies might seem like just an annoying buzzing pest, they can actually cause real problems for ponies.
More than just annoying
Flies make your pony genuinely miserable. When flies constantly bother your pony, they can’t relax or eat properly. Instead of grazing calmly, they spend their energy stamping, tail-swishing, and head-tossing to try to chase the flies away.
Different flies, different problems
House flies land on your pony’s face, especially around the eyes and nose. Whilst they don’t bite, they’re incredibly annoying and can spread bacteria.
Stable flies have a nasty bite and usually attack your pony’s legs and belly, causing painful welts.
Horse flies are the big, aggressive biters. Their bites are very painful and can bleed.
Bot flies lay yellow eggs on your pony’s legs. The eggs hatch into larvae that your pony swallows when grooming, and these live in their stomach.
Midges cause ‘sweet itch’, where ponies become allergic to the bites and scratch themselves raw around the mane and tail.
Health problems flies can cause
Flies can lead to eye infections, skin infections, sweet itch, stomach worms, and stress that causes weight loss.
How flies affect behaviour
Watch for head tossing, non-stop tail swishing, stamping feet, hiding in stables instead of grazing, grumpy behaviour, and rubbing against fences.
When flies are worst
Fly season runs from spring through autumn (September to April in South Africa). Flies are most active mid-morning through late afternoon on warm, humid, still days.
Next: Learn about fly masks, sheets, and other equipment!
